MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.
A.D. 1823
Parliament reassembled on the 4th of February. It was opened by commission; and in the speech his majesty declared that he would be no party to those proceedings at Verona which sanctioned the interference of France with the internal affairs of Spain; and that he would endeavour to avert the calamity of war between those countries. This declaration elicited general approbation; but it was thought by some that more energetic measures should be taken than those adopted by ministers. During the session Lord Ellenborough moved in the upper house for an address to his majesty, expressing, in high terms, a condemnation of the conduct of France and other allied powers, as well as of the British cabinet, in requiring Spain to alter her constitution at their dictation. The majority of the lords, however, seemed to consider that ministers had used every judicious and practicable effort to prevent the attack on Spain; and the motion was rejected. A similar disposition prevailed in the commons. Some few thought further interference necessary, and Mr. Macdonald introduced a motion to that effect, but it was lost by a majority of three hundred and seventy-two against twenty. So Spain was left to the mercy of the despots: soon after despotism was restored in that country, together with Ferdinand VII.
AFFAIRS OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE.
The distress of the landed interests was early discussed in the commons, and it led to a proposition made by Mr. Whitmore for reducing the import price of grain two shillings a year till it should fall to sixty shillings. This was negatived; but government manifested a disposition to open the trade in corn. At the same time the foreign committee was reappointed, and further steps taken to free commerce from restrictions.
THE SUPPLIES.
The new chancellor of the exchequer brought forward his budget on the 21st of February. The total revenue of the year was estimated at £57,096,988, and the expenditure, at £49,852,786. This left a surplus of above £7,000,000, and Mr. Robinson proposed to relieve the burdens of the country by a repeal of assessed taxes to the amount of £ 2,000,000, retaining the other £5,000,000 toward the liquidation of the national debt. His views and statements obtained much applause, so that he carried his estimates for the year triumphantly.